Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-12-22

much pride to force my son upon any
woman who did not care for him-simply
for the sake of increasing the Importance
of the family by annexing few more mis-
cradle acres of land to the estate.
1t was Christmas eve, the great dining
room gayly decorated and for the time
given up to the young people, who sang
and danced to their hearts content during
the early part of the evening.
The stage that had been erected at the
upper end of the room lacking nothing in
the way of drop scene, footlights, and so
on. All the county families whose names
we're on the visiting list of the Towers had
been hidden to the theatricals and to the
dance afterward, and already carriage after
carriage had deposited its load of equity
middle-age and fair be muslined youth.
he last scene was to be the most beauti-
full of all the entertainment, and as a set
piece it was, indeed, a success. 1t was
Gay Rossitur's bridal tableau, and when
the curtain rose Leslie, in flowing white
veil, traditional orange blossoms, and all,
stood with hand lightly held in Colonel
Bryan's, Basil, as best man, looking with a
comical mixture of amusement and dismay
at the charming bridesmaid, in snowy silk,
with white roses i'll her dark hair; and it
was impossible not to observe the twinkle
in the parsons Irish blue eyes, as he con-
fronied the audience in all the dignity of
freshly starched surplice.
Then the curtain tell, and the admiring
friends applauded in the usual conven-
tiOnal manner; after which Mrs. Giles led
the way into the drawing rooms. Later
came Basil and Gay, loobing uncommonly
happy, yet rather too guilty to escape no.
tice. Still, they joined in the dances, and
1t was only after some alluslon had been
made to the absence of Leslie and Colonel
Bryan, that Mrs. Giles, at signal from her
son, followed him into the library, where
were seated the missing ones and the par
son. Leslie had resumed her evening
dress, but her delicate cheeks were SO
much flushed that her aunt at once COM
mented upon her not having removed her
stage rouge. But this deepened the color,
and she almost unconsciously drew nearer
to the clergyman. He smiled reassunngly,
and led his hostess to a seat.
"My dear madam" he sad, quietly, Il
hope YOU will thank me tor having aided
you in making two of our friends happy.
By virtue of my office, / finished the cere-
mony which you admired so much.
Colonel, l am sure you can easily make
your peace. You see, Mrs. Giles, you
signed your name to your consent to this
this ENHANCEMENT.
Ais fair in love and war" put in Basil,
gayly: "and, mother dear, Colonel Bryan is
| both a lover and a warrior"
Mrs. Giles was a wise woman in her
generation, and she did what only wise
woman could have done-she held her
tongue Colonel Bryan had been ordered
away for his health, you know, and both
he and dear Leslie were always so roman
tic. She was happy to announce the en-
gagement of her son to Miss Rossitur.
! Such a delightful contamination of her
dearest hopes. They had been attached to
each other since they were mere children.
Yes, dear Leslie was going away for the
rest of the winter. Her husbands health
left much to be desired. Active service in
the Soudan, you know And so on.
"Dcur Leslie" since she is happy, can
afford to smile, though she tells her hus-
band that he is not 80 much a brave war;
rior as an unprincipled strategist.